Screenwriting Option
Students learn the art of screenwriting for film, television, and new media through studies in concept, structure, narrative, and dialogue to craft original projects and adaptations. Writing courses are complemented by studies in media history, theory, and fundamentals for a practical and holistic understanding of the media arts.
Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree:
CTVA – Screenwriting Option
- All lower and upper division courses taken toward completion of the CTVA major must be completed with a grade of C or better, except as indicated below.
Lower division (12 units)
- CTVA 100 Introduction to Mass Communication Arts (3)
- CTVA 210 Television-Film Aesthetics (3)
- CTVA 220 Foundations of Media Writing (3)
- CTVA 230 Fundamentals of Audio Production (3)
or CTVA 240 Fundamentals of Video Production (3)
or CTVA 250 Fundamentals of Film Production (3)
- NOTE: Students intending to continue in the Screenwriting Option must pass CTVA 220 with a grade of B- or better.
Upper Division (33 Units)
1. Required Courses (12 units)
- CTVA 309 Film as Literature (3)
- CTVA 320 Writing for Film and Television (3)
- CTVA 420 Screenplay Adaptation (3)
- CTVA 425 Advanced Screenwriting (3)
Select one of the following courses: (3 units)
- CTVA 301 Design of the Media Message (3)
- CTVA 319 Criticism in Cinema and Television Arts (3)
Select one of the following courses: (3 units)
- CTVA 305 History of Broadcasting (3)
- CTVA 310 History of American Cinema (3)
Select one of the following courses: (3 units)
- CTVA 327 Writing for Industrial Media (3)
- CTVA 428 Writing Screenplay Comedy (3)
Select one of the following courses: (3 units)
- CTVA 350 Film Directing (3)
- CTVA 440 Theory and Techniques of Television Directing (3)
Additional Units:
- Select 9 additional units in CTVA or an allied field, with the approval of an advisor, as prescribed in the official departmental advisement form for Screenwriting, or CTVA 329C or CTVA 494C or CTVA 494F.
- General Education: CTVA 100 can be counted toward GE Lifelong Learning and the major.
Total Units in the Option - 45
General Education Units - 48
Additional Units - 27
Total Units Required for a B.A. Degree - 120